Model airplane



March 27, 1934. H, STEIFF 1,952,952

MODEL AIRPLANE Filed Nov. 18. 1932 Ill/ INYENTOE Hueo STEIFF M 43 mnmmsr 30 1 and a large loop 1 Patented M... 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MODEL AIRPLANE Hugo Steiff, Giengen-on-the-Brenz, Germany Application November 18 1932, Serial No. 643,275

tain this outline, in view of the stresses arising from sharp bends wire.

According to my invention the wire is reinforced, at the part forming the front edge of given to other parts of the the frame, by a-length of reinforcing wire extending along that part and joined thereto, so that this part is composite and stiffened. I may attach similar reinforcing wires to other parts of the main wire where the bending is slight,

20 the sharp bends then occurring at the gaps between the reinforced parts.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, of the model airplane, and

26 Fig. 2 is a side view, with the wing frames omitted.

The center piece or keel of the frame consists of a steel wire 1 extending fore and aft. In front this wire is looped to form a small eye both the eye and the loop being in vertical plane. Fromthe loop 1 the wire extends rearwards, and the end portion 1 thereof is downwardly and rearwardly inclined. This part 1 carries a, disk 2, which serves as a handle and weight for balancing the model. The lower-rear part 11111 of the loop 1 juts rearwards to form a nose for engaging the string of a catapult. A rubber nose 13 is fitted onto the loop 1 The wing frame consists mainly of a single piece of wire 4, which extends transversely of the machine through the eye 1 and is bent to form two rearwardly extending loops, one for each wing. The ends of this wire 4 are bent to form hooks 4' engaging over the transverse portion of the wire near the eye 1 The wire 4 is reinforced, in parts, by wires 5, 7, 8 soldered thereto, these reinforcing wires being placed at the parts where little or no bending of the wire 4 is required for fashioning the wing frames.

The wing frames thus retain sufiicient flexibility to allowj of adjustments being made before finally assembling the parts, and such adjustments may include shifting the hooked ends 4 of the wire outwards from the center of the machine.

Stays are formed by a wire 9, looped to form an eye 9 embracing the wire 1.' This wire 9 extends across the wing frame, and is attached to both limbs of each wing.

A tail frame is formed of two wires 10, '11 having their ends attached to the wire 1. I

At the parts where the wires touch or cross each other solder is applied for making joints. The frame is, consequently, a strong, unitary structure, though possessing an adequate degree of flexibility.

For completing the model the frame is covered with paper or fabric, as required.

For launching the model the nose 11111 is engaged with the catapult string, which is stretched with one hand, the other hand holding the disk 2. On release of the string the model flies upwards, as the slip stream depresses the resilient tail. When the velocity decreases the tailbends up again, causing the model to describe in its flight a loop, whereupon it descends to the ground. a

The tail frame may be formed in the same way as the wing frames, and may be used for carrying a rear plane of moderate size. The reinforcing wires of the wing frames, and of the tail frame if reinforcing wires are used therewith, may be of difierent thicknesses at different parts, according to the different degrees of bending required.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1s:

1. In a model airplane a wing frame structure consisting of a piece of bent wire of the full length required for the leading edge of both wings and for two loops extending rearwards from said leading edge, and pieces of reinforcing wire extending along, and joined to, said first mentioned piece of wire, said reinforcing pieces having between them gaps occurring at the parts where said first mentioned wire is bent for the forma-- tion of said loops.

2. In a model airplane a wing frame structure consisting of a piece of bent wire of the full length required for the leading edge of both wings and for two loops extending rearwards from said leading edge, and pieces of reinforcing wire exconsisting of a piece of bent wire of the full length required for the leading edge of both wings and for two loops extending rearwards from said leading edge, and pieces of reinforcing wire extending along, and joined to, said first mentioned piece of wire, said reinforcing pieces having between them gaps occurring at the tips of said loops and at the parts where said first mentioned wire is bent rearwards 'from the ends of said leading edge.

HUGO STEIFF. 

